More Images

Animal activist is back in custody

Published: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7:53 p.m.

Florida animal rights activist Camille Marino was back in state custody and awaiting extradition to Michigan Thursday on a charge she violated probation by committing wire fraud, authorities said.

Marino was in the Sumter County Jail after agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested her Wednesday on an out-of-state warrant, Sumter County Sheriff’s Capt. Kevin Hofecker said.

Marino had gone to the jail to retrieve personal property that the FDLE had seized from her home last June, said Special Agent Yolanda Carbia, supervisor for the FDLE field office in Gainesville. Marino was being investigated after several University of Florida employees had complained they had been threatened or harassed after their home addresses were posted on her website Negotiation is Over.

Once officers had finished processing Marino’s property and were ready to release it, the FDLE contacted Marino to get it back to her, Carbia said. Marino asked that FDLE not drop it off at her house, Carbia said, and agents arranged to meet her at the Sumter County Jail in Bushnell.

“In the course of doing that, we found an outstanding warrant out of Michigan,” Carbia said.

The FDLE has been in touch with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office as part of an ongoing investigation into Marino’s activities as an animal rights activist. Professors and employees at UF have complained that Marino has been targeting them and posting their personal information online.

The University Police Department is working with FDLE as well, Carbia said.

Marino “has been looked at for similar activities in other states,” Carbia said.

Marino said on her website that her arrest was orchestrated by UF officials. That is not the case, said Janine Sikes, assistant vice president for media relations and community affairs at UF.

“All I know is she’d violated her probation from Michigan,” Sikes said. “We don’t have anything to do with it.”

Gainesville police first arrested Marino in February 2012 at an animal rights protest outside Emerson Hall on a warrant from Michigan on a case related to her protests against a Wayne State University researcher.

She was sentenced in Michigan in December to six months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of trespassing and unlawful posting. Within months, she was on probation, records show.

In February, Marino won a Florida appeals court ruling that required UF to disclose the locations of its animal research labs, a decision UF said it would comply with.

The FDLE is continuing to investigate, Carbia said, but wouldn’t say if other charges could result. “The case is active, that is all I can say,” she said.

<p>Florida animal rights activist Camille Marino was back in state custody and awaiting extradition to Michigan Thursday on a charge she violated probation by committing wire fraud, authorities said.</p><p>Marino was in the Sumter County Jail after agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested her Wednesday on an out-of-state warrant, Sumter County Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Hofecker said.</p><p>Marino had gone to the jail to retrieve personal property that the FDLE had seized from her home last June, said Special Agent Yolanda Carbia, supervisor for the FDLE field office in Gainesville. Marino was being investigated after several University of Florida employees had complained they had been threatened or harassed after their home addresses were posted on her website Negotiation is Over.</p><p>Once officers had finished processing Marino's property and were ready to release it, the FDLE contacted Marino to get it back to her, Carbia said. Marino asked that FDLE not drop it off at her house, Carbia said, and agents arranged to meet her at the Sumter County Jail in Bushnell.</p><p>“In the course of doing that, we found an outstanding warrant out of Michigan,” Carbia said.</p><p>The FDLE has been in touch with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office as part of an ongoing investigation into Marino's activities as an animal rights activist. Professors and employees at UF have complained that Marino has been targeting them and posting their personal information online.</p><p>The University Police Department is working with FDLE as well, Carbia said.</p><p>Marino “has been looked at for similar activities in other states,” Carbia said.</p><p>Marino said on her website that her arrest was orchestrated by UF officials. That is not the case, said Janine Sikes, assistant vice president for media relations and community affairs at UF.</p><p>“All I know is she'd violated her probation from Michigan,” Sikes said. “We don't have anything to do with it.”</p><p>Gainesville police first arrested Marino in February 2012 at an animal rights protest outside Emerson Hall on a warrant from Michigan on a case related to her protests against a Wayne State University researcher.</p><p>She was sentenced in Michigan in December to six months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of trespassing and unlawful posting. Within months, she was on probation, records show.</p><p>In February, Marino won a Florida appeals court ruling that required UF to disclose the locations of its animal research labs, a decision UF said it would comply with.</p><p>The FDLE is continuing to investigate, Carbia said, but wouldn't say if other charges could result. “The case is active, that is all I can say,” she said.</p>